Zip-bowl

ABSTRACT

A sturdy, medium-gauge plastic bowl. Instead of needing an accompanying lid, this bowl quickly turns into a flexible, lighter-gauge plastic at the mid-point interface area, and this softer, more flexible plastic portion has a zip-closure along the top, very similar to a common plastic storage bag. The bowl is oblong instead of round in order to better accommodate the long zip-closure along the top.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Field of Invention: Utility

The Zip Bowl is a product which combines the sturdiness of a storage container with the convenience of a zip-top storage bag. It is an improvement over the existing storage containers, because its closure is included in the design, therefore it requires no lid. It is also easier to use than food storage bags, because the Zip Bowl is much sturdier, and it stands up on its own.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The lower portion of this product is an oblong or oval, light-gauge plastic bowl, similar to the popular low-cost food storage containers on the market today. The upper portion of this container is a “zip” closure, similar to a quality zip-top sandwich or food storage bag. The manufacturing process of this product is similar to the processes currently used for the sandwich/storage bag and plastic storage container industry.

Many consumers have dealt with the problem of losing the lids for their plastic containers. They have also dealt with the fact that plastic “zip-top” storage bags are not sturdy, and cannot stand up on their own. By utilizing the Zip-Bowl, the user has the advantage of storing food items easily, without the need of an accompanying lid. They also will have the advantage of a container that will stand up while—and after—being filled. This all-in-one storage container has a storage bag-like closure at the top, and the bottom portion of the container is a light-gauge plastic “bowl”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Sheet 1-3:

Front-view of Product.

This illustration shows the dimensions of the entire product and the measurements of each component of the product, i.e., the width, height, and depth of the zip-closure portion (“bag” portion); the width, height and depth of the “bowl” portion, as well as the width and depth of the base of the product. The zip-closure itself (A) is also indicated in this drawing. The dotted line (B) indicates the “bag/bowl interface”. This is the area where the thickness/gauge of the plastic quickly changes.

Sheet 2-3:

Side-view of Product.

This illustration shows the dimensions of the entire product and the measurements of each component of the product, i.e., the width, height, and depth of the zip-closure portion (“bag” portion); the width, height, and depth of the “bowl” portion, as well as the width and depth of the base of the product. The zip-closure itself (A) is also indicated in this drawing. The dotted line (B) indicates the “bag/bowl interface”. This is the area where the thickness/gauge of the plastic quickly changes.

Sheet 3-3:

Top-view of Product.

This illustration shows the product as one would see it looking down from above. This drawing depicts the relationship of the top (“bag”) portion of the product to the “bowl” portion of the product (C), as well as its relationship to the base (D) of the “bowl” portion, The zip-closure (A) is also indicated in this drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Zip-Bowl will eventually come in various sizes and colors. It is made of durable, but lightweight plastic. The bottom “bowl” portion consists of a lightweight, sturdy plastic, very similar to the lighter-grade plastics used in the popular low-cost food storage containers on the market today. At a certain height, the bowl portion quickly turns into a very flexible (but still very durable) plastic, with a zip-closure at the top. The “bowl” portion and the zip-closure, or “bag” portion are melted, or fused together at the interface where the “bowl” and the “bag” meet. The process to manufacture the Zip-Bowl will involve Thermo-Molding and/or Injection Molding—both processes are currently used today in the manufacture of plastic products. 

1. What I claim as my invention is a unique product that combines the elements of both a plastic storage container and a plastic zip-closure storage bag. The matter which I claim as my invention is a multiple-use container which can be described as a sturdy plastic container that has a zip-closure at the top instead of an accompanying lid. At the same time, this product can also be seen as a strong, zip-top plastic bag that has a sturdy, stable plastic container for its bottom portion. 